Apparatus for vaporizing medicaments.



W. REISMANN.

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING MEDIGAMENTS.

AP'PLIGATION FILED NOV.7, 1912.

1,069,980. Patented'Aug. 12, 1913.

A 9 @mz/ $4/4Z WILI-IELM REISMANN, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING MEDICAMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed November 7, 1912. Serial No. 730,016.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NILHELM RmsMANN. a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for vaporizing Medicaments, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus by means of which medicated vapor may be employed for treating the mucous coating of the bronchial ways. An important and well recognized method of treating affections of such ways includes applying a medicament in finely divided condition to such coatings.by inhalation. Heretofore it has been customary, when the desired medicament was of a solid nature, to prepare a solution therefrom, and then by suitable means vaporize this solution so that it could be readily inhaled. This method is however not entirely satisfactory or suitable for all conditions. By it there are obtained relatively large drops or particles which cannot thoroughly penetrate the bronchial ways and further, because of the large amount of moisture contained in the vapor, there is danger of catching a cold.

It has been proposed to apply finely divided solid niedicaments directly to the parts to be treated as by forcing pulverized material through a very fine mesh screen, but by this method it has been impossible to obtain particles of such fineness that all portions of the mucous coatings would be reached thereby.

The object of the present invention is to provide means by which solid medicaments may be vaporized and the vapor, in a dry condition free from moisture, caused to intimately penetrate the finest ramifications of the bronchial ways to be treated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, substantially on the line AA of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate in vertical section and plan another embodiment-or modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises a housing or casing a which is preferably provided with a covering of heat insulating material and is supported upon suitable legs or standards, three, 2', j, is, being shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures referred to. Within this housing or casing is suitably supported a crucible 0 adapted to receive the medicament to be vaporized. As shown the crucible 0 is supported by a plurality of adjusting screws 6, f and g. The adjusting screws 0, f and g are surrounded by porcelain insulating tubes. A slit 7!. is provided in the casing wall so that one of the screws 6 may be adjustable therein and permit the ready removal of the parts. Above the crucible is arranged a bent vapor discharge conduit (Z which extends in an upwardly inclined direction laterally through a side wall of the casing and has its lower inner end positioned to receive vapor rising from the crucible. This conduit (Z is preferably made of porcelain. Experience has shown that such material is best adapted for this purpose. Tubes of metal are undesirable both because of the fact that they readily become highly heated and also because they are liable to be deleteriously af fected by the action of the medicament, for example hydrochlorate of soda which is employed. Conduits of meerschaum or similar material are also unsuited for use by reason of their being liable to be injured by the action of the vaporized medicament. The crucible 0 can be made of platinum or other suitable material. Beneath the housing or casing 66, which, as shown, has a downwardly tapering'bottom Z2, is arranged a suitable heater or burner such as conventionally illustrated at p in Fig. 1, the upper end of which is beneath a central opening in the bottom of the housing (4. Through the top of the housing a extends an outlet 9 for the products of combustion. Means are provided whereby a stream or body of gas under pressure is caused to move through the discharge conduit (Z to carry the vapor rising from the crucible 0 to the mouth of such tube, where they may be inhaled by a patient. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the leg is is made of tubular form and constitutes the conduit through which the gas for the purpose stated is conducted. This leg is provided near its lower end with a lateral inlet m and with two discharge or outlet branches n, o, the former opening into the lower portion of the casing a so as to assist combustion of the burner 29, and the branch 0 extending pressed air supplied to "the inlet'mfrom-anyv suitable means as from a hand bulb or bel lows, ,will be found satisfactory.

In the modification ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the shellr is-provided with an interior body of asbestos or" other suitable heat insulating. material 8,

and the crucibl-e'o is embedded-in a block t in' whichv isalso embedded an: electrical heatingicoilm having-suitable terminals o, w. Inth-is form-of the invention the gas for transporting the vapors arising from the crucible is-introducedinto the bentjdischarge conduit by a substantially horizontally arranged inlet pipe y'thatextends acrossth'e interiorchamberiw within the up per portion of" the casing and into the bend o'f 'conduit clabove the mouth ofthe crucible. If-"preferred insteadof compressed air some other form of gas, as for example nitrogen or oxygen, may be utilized 2 to: convey the vapors in the tube cl.

The outer end of'the vapor discharge conduit d may, ineach case, be inclosed within a suitable hood 2, as shown in Fignlp The manner of operating and the advantages incident to the apparatus herein described will be readily understood and appreciated. It is particularly adapted for using solid medicaments such as ordinary salt which has been-found very beneficial in the treatment of diseases oru'nnatural conditions ofthe' coatings of the bronchial ways.

Having thus described the inventionwhat is claimed is:

1. InanapparatUs for vaporizing medicaments, the combination of' a crucible, meansfor heating the crucible, a conduit adapted to receive'vapor rising from the 2.. In an apparatus for vaporizing medicament's, the combination of a crucible for containing a medicament, means for heat-' ing the crucible to vaporize the contents thereof, an inclined conduit having its inlet end arran'gedabove the crucible to receive vapor risingtherefrom and its upper discharge endbeyond the side of the crucible, and 1a pipe-for admitting gas under pressure into said. conduit adjacent its inlet.

3. In an apparatus for vaporizing medicaments, the combination of a housing or casing, a crucible supported in said casing, a discharge conduit supported above the crucible with its inlet arranged to receive vapor rising from the crucible and its discharge' extending through a wall of the easing, means for heating the crucible, and a pipe extending through a wall of the'casing. into the discharge'conduit for supply ing gas under pressure thereto.

4. In an apparatus for vaporizingmedicaments,the combination of a crucible, a discharge conduit having its inlet communieating with the crucible, a burner for heating the crucible, and aconduit for gas under pressure having: two lateral branches, one terminating. adjacent the burner and the other extending into the discharge con duit toforce the vapor rising from the crucible therethrough.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature'inpresence of two witnesses.

IVILHELM REISMANNQ Witnesses RICHARD Rum,

AUGUST" FUGGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for'five cents each, by addressing the GommissionerofPatents, Washington; D; 0. 

